Safety hockey stick

ABSTRACT

This invention concerns an improved hockey stick and hockey stick components for protecting participants and spectators of the sport from separated portions of the hockey stick that may be launched outward as a result of the momentum from a shooting or passing action. The improvement comprises an integral cord or cable that tethers the individual components of a hockey stick to each other preventing separation of the hockey stick or its components.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to an improved hockey stick that participants use in the sport of hockey. In particular, this invention improves currently available hockey sticks with a feature that tethers separated portions of the hockey stick to each other. As a result, the separated portions of the hockey stick will be unable to function as projectiles, thus reducing the potential to injure other participants or spectators. In addition, the separated portions of the hockey stick will remain connected and will thus be quicker, easier and safer to remove from the playing surface. This will further reduce the risk of injury to the participants.

Description of the Related Art

Participants in the sport of hockey use hockey sticks for multiple purposes. When acting in an offensive fashion, the participant may use a hockey stick to receive a hockey puck, pass a hockey puck, control a hockey puck as the participant moves about the playing surface, and shoot a hockey puck toward the other team's goal in an attempt to score. When acting in a defensive fashion, the participant may use a hockey stick to block a puck from traveling to a member of the opposing team, steal a puck from the opposing team, and stop a puck from entering the participant's goal. Many other uses for a hockey stick are possible while participating in the sport of hockey.

Hockey sticks are typically comprised of two major components, a shaft and a blade. The participant grasps the shaft with one or two hands and uses the blade portion of hockey stick to touch the puck while acting in both offensive and defensive fashions. One version of a hockey stick, the one-piece version, is manufactured to have no discernible coupling between the shaft and the blade. A second version of a hockey stick, the two-piece version, is manufactured with the intent to couple the shaft and the blade subsequent to the manufacturing process. With the two-piece version, the shaft and the blade connect to each other at the hosel portion of the blade.

Hockey sticks have historically been manufactured using various types of wood. The strength and weight of the various types of woods have been important considerations when deciding which variety to use. Poplar, birch, maple and ash are a few examples of wood varieties that have been used for hockey sticks. More than one layer or ply of the same or dissimilar wood varieties are adhered together to form the solid shaft of the one-piece wood hockey stick. Wooden hockey sticks tend to splinter or break during normal use in the sport of hockey, either at the shaft or blade component. Spectators or other participants are potentially at risk of being struck by a portion of the broken hockey stick if the broken portion is launched outward.

Various types of composite materials have complemented the use of wood in the manufacture of contemporary hockey sticks. Graphite (carbon fiber), fiberglass, Kevlar® and titanium hockey sticks are preferred by many participants because they are more responsive and weigh less than wooden hockey sticks. A complete one-piece hockey stick can be made of composite materials or each independent component of a two-piece hockey stick can be made of composite materials. One characteristic of a composite hockey stick shaft is that it is typically hollow, for the reasons of reducing the weight of the shaft and to reducing the amount of composite material required to produce the hockey stick shaft. Composite hockey sticks also tend to splinter or break during normal use in the sport of hockey, either at the shaft or blade component, mainly during a slapshot or wristshot motion. Spectators or other participants are potentially at risk of being struck by a portion of the broken hockey stick if the broken portion is launched outward due to the momentum produced by the swinging motion. Furthermore, the rules of hockey clearly state a broken hockey stick must be immediately dropped to the ice. These broken pieces not only interfere with the participants' activities, but they are a potential hazard to the participants who may inadvertently step on the broken pieces and cause them to fall. The officials commonly attempt to remove the pieces of a broken hockey stick as the sporting activity continues, but because the pieces are separated and usually a distance apart from each other, it is more difficult to remove them in a timely fashion.

This invention improves currently available hockey sticks with a feature that tethers separated portions of the hockey stick to each other. As a result, the separated portions of the hockey stick will be unable to function as projectiles, thus reducing the potential to injure other participants or spectators by being struck by the separated portions of the hockey stick. The broken pieces of the stick will not separate making it quicker, easier and safer for an official to remove the broken stick from the ice in a timely fashion.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Utilizing one or more cords, cables or equivalent, the hockey stick blade is coupled to the hockey stick shaft at a location of the shaft such that a separated portion of the hockey stick cannot act as a projectile in the event that the hockey stick shaft splinters or breaks. When used in conjunction with a hockey stick that incorporates a wooden shaft, the one or more cords, cables or equivalent is placed between one or more layers or plies of the wood shaft during the manufacturing process. The one or more cords, cables or equivalent will thus be imbedded substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the hockey stick shaft.

When used in conjunction with a hockey stick that incorporates a composite shaft with a hollow center, the one or more cords, cables or equivalent are placed within the hollow shaft. The one or more cords, cables or equivalent will thus be positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow hockey stick shaft. One end of the cords, cables or equivalent will be coupled to the blade at the blade end of the hockey stick and the other end of the cords, cables or equivalent will be coupled at the plug end of the hockey stick. As a result, the risk of a separated portion of the hockey stick potentially injuring another participant or spectator is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying non-limiting drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member forming a mechanical connection between the blade and plug, disposed within a hollow composite hockey stick shaft, is depicted with a dashed line.

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial perspective view of the same embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the blade end of the hockey stick with a mechanical coupling.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial perspective view of the same embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the blade end of the hockey stick with an alternate mechanical coupling.

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial perspective view of the same embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 3, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the blade end of the hockey stick utilizing a screw, ring and internally threaded insert.

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 3, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the blade end of the hockey stick utilizing an eye hook and an internally threaded insert.

FIG. 6 illustrates a partial perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the blade end of the hockey stick utilizing a screw.

FIG. 7 illustrates a partial perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the blade end of the hockey stick utilizing a screw.

FIG. 8 illustrates a partial perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the blade end of the hockey stick utilizing an eye hook.

FIG. 9 illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the plug end of the hockey stick utilizing a rod.

FIG. 10 illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the tapered plug end of the hockey stick utilizing a rod.

FIG. 11 illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the plug end of the hockey stick utilizing an eye hook.

FIG. 12 illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the tapered plug end of the hockey stick utilizing an eye hook.

FIG. 13 illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the plug end of the hockey stick utilizing a screw.

FIG. 14 illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the tapered plug end of the hockey stick utilizing a screw.

FIG. 15 illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the safety cable member is terminated at the open end of the hockey stick utilizing a rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The safety hockey stick 2 shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention protects participants and spectators utilizing a cable 4 inserted within the hollow shaft 5 of the safety hockey stick 2. One end of the cable 4 is mechanically coupled at the blade 6 of the hockey stick 2 and the other end of the cable 4 is mechanically coupled at the plug end 8 of the hockey stick 2. The cable 4 will maintain mechanical connection between the individual portions of the hockey stick 2 in the event that portions of the shaft 5 separate from each other or the blade 6 is separated from the shaft 5.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, one end of the safety cable 14 is mechanically coupled to the hockey stick blade 10. The tenon portion 12 of the hockey stick blade 10 is constructed with outer walls comprised of composite material and a hollow interior cavity 20. Safety cable 14 is coupled to rigid shaft 18 with a knot 22 and rigid shaft 18 is installed generally perpendicular within the hollow interior cavity 20 of the tenon portion 12. Each end of the rigid shaft 18 is inserted into and held in place by apertures 16 and 16′. Epoxy is inserted into the hollow interior cavity 20 of the tenon portion 12 for additional support of the rigid shaft 18. The opposite end of the safety cable 14 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the plug end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 3, one end of the safety cable 34 is mechanically coupled to tenon portion 32 of the hockey stick blade 30. The tenon portion 32 of the hockey stick blade 30 is constructed as a solid piece of composite material. A loop 37 is made with one end of safety cable 34. Machine screw 36 is inserted through the opening in loop 37 and into tenon portion 32 of the hockey stick blade 30 thus coupling safety cable 34 to the hockey stick blade 30. The opposite end of the safety cable 34 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the plug end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 4, one end of the safety cable 42 may be mechanically coupled to the tenon portion 50 of the hockey stick blade. The tenon portion 50 of the hockey stick blade is constructed as a solid piece of composite material. An internally threaded insert 52 is positioned within the tenon portion 50 of the hockey stick blade. Safety cable 42 is mechanically coupled to washer 46 with knot 48. Washer 46 has a diameter smaller than the head of machine screw 44. Machine screw 44 is inserted through the opening in washer 46 and into internally threaded insert 52 thus coupling safety cable 42 to the hockey stick blade. The opposite end of the safety cable 42 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the plug end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 5, one end of the safety cable 54 is mechanically coupled to the tenon portion 60 of the hockey stick blade. The tenon portion 60 of the hockey stick blade is constructed as a solid piece of composite material. An internally threaded insert 58 is positioned within the tenon portion 60 of the hockey stick blade. Safety cable 54 is mechanically coupled to eye hook 56 with knot 62. Eye hook 56 is inserted into internally threaded insert 58 thus coupling safety cable 54 to the hockey stick blade. The opposite end of the safety cable 54 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the plug end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 6, one end of the safety cable 74 is mechanically coupled to one end of tenon portion 72 of the hockey stick blade 70. The tenon portion 72 of the hockey stick blade is constructed as a solid piece of wood or more than one plies of wood. The opposite end of tenon portion 72 is mechanically and chemically fastened to the hosel portion 80 of hockey stick blade 70 with an appropriate adhesive. A loop 78 is made with one end of safety cable 74. Wood screw 76 is inserted through the opening in loop 78 and into tenon portion 72 of the hockey stick blade 70 thus coupling safety cable 74 to the hockey stick blade 70. The opposite end of the safety cable 74 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the plug end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6. As can be seen in FIG. 7, one end of the safety cable 90 is mechanically coupled to tenon portion 88 of the hockey stick blade 86. The entire hockey stick blade 86 is constructed as a solid piece of wood or more than one plies of wood. A loop 94 is made with one end of safety cable 90. Wood screw 92 is inserted through the opening in loop 94 and into tenon portion 88 of the hockey stick blade 86 thus coupling safety cable 90 to hockey stick blade 86. The opposite end of safety cable 90 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the plug end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 8, one end of the safety cable 102 is mechanically coupled to the tenon portion 100 of the hockey stick blade. The tenon portion 100 of the hockey stick blade is constructed as a solid piece of wood or more than one plies of wood. One end of safety cable 102 is mechanically coupled to eye hook 104 with knot 106. Eye hook 104 is inserted into tenon portion 100 thus coupling safety cable 102 to the hockey stick blade. The opposite end of the safety cable 102 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the plug end of the hockey stick.

Turning to the end of the hockey stick shaft opposite the blade, known as the ‘plug’ or ‘butt’ end of the hockey stick, FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. One end of safety cable 112 is coupled to rigid shaft 116 with knot 118 and rigid shaft 116 is installed generally perpendicular within hollow interior cavity 119 of plug portion 114. Each end of rigid shaft 116 is inserted into and held in place by apertures 117 and 117′. Epoxy is inserted into the hollow interior cavity 119 of plug portion 114 for additional support of rigid shaft 116. Plug portion 114 is inserted into open plug end 110 of the hollow hockey stick shaft. Cap portion 120 of plug portion 114 is of sufficient size and shape to prevent plug portion 114 from entering the shaft further than the top of the opening. The opposite end of the safety cable 112 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the blade end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention and is similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9. The embodiment in FIG. 10 illustrates the use of tapered plug portion 126. One end of safety cable 124 is coupled to rigid shaft 128 with knot 130 and rigid shaft 128 is installed generally perpendicular within hollow interior cavity 131 of tapered plug portion 126. Each end of rigid shaft 128 is inserted into and held in place by apertures 129 and 129′. Epoxy is inserted into the hollow interior cavity 131 of tapered plug portion 126 for additional support of rigid shaft 128. Plug portion 126 is inserted into open plug end 122 of the hollow hockey stick shaft. Cap portion 132 of plug portion 126 is of sufficient size and shape to prevent plug portion 126 from entering the shaft further than the top of the opening. The opposite end of the safety cable 124 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the blade end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 11 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment in FIG. 11 illustrates the use of tapered plug portion 146. Tapered plug portion 146 is fabricated from wood. One end of safety cable 138 is coupled to eye portion 142 of eye hook 140 with knot 144 and eye hook 140 is inserted into tapered plug portion 146. Tapered plug portion 146 is inserted into open plug end 136 of the hollow hockey stick shaft. The opposite end of the safety cable 138 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the blade end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 12 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention and is similar to the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 11. The embodiment in FIG. 12 illustrates the use of plug portion 160. Plug portion 160 is fabricated from wood. One end of safety cable 152 is coupled to eye portion 156 of eye hook 154 with knot 158 and eye hook 154 is inserted into plug portion 160. Plug portion 160 is inserted into open plug end 150 of the hollow hockey stick shaft. The opposite end of the safety cable 152 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the blade end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 13 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment in FIG. 13 illustrates the use of tapered plug portion 178. Tapered plug portion 178 is fabricated from wood. One end of safety cable 172 is fashioned into a loop and terminated with knot 176. Wood screw 174 is inserted through the loop of safety cable 172 and inserted into plug portion 178. Plug portion 178 is inserted into open plug end 170 of the hollow hockey stick shaft. The opposite end of the safety cable 172 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the blade end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 14 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment in FIG. 14 illustrates the use of plug portion 188. Tapered plug portion 188 is fabricated from wood. One end of safety cable 182 is fashioned into a loop and terminated with knot 186. Wood screw 184 is inserted through the loop of safety cable 182 and inserted into plug portion 188. Plug portion 188 is inserted into open plug end 180 of the hollow hockey stick shaft. The opposite end of the safety cable 182 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the blade end of the hockey stick.

FIG. 15 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention. Safety cable 192 is coupled to rigid shaft 194 with knot 198. Each end of rigid shaft 194 is inserted into the hollow hockey stick shaft 190 and held in place by apertures 196 and 196′. The opposite end of the safety cable 192 is installed within the hollow center of the hockey stick shaft and couples at the blade end of the hockey stick.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A hockey stick comprising a shaft portion and a blade portion, a first end of said shaft portion in communication with a hosel end of said blade portion, a plurality of elongated members disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft portion and disposed within said shaft portion, each of said elongated members comprising a first end and a second end, said first end of each of said elongated members coupled to said hosel end of said blade portion, each of said second ends of said elongated members coupled to a second end of said shaft portion, and each of said elongated members adapted and operative to maintain said blade portion in communication with said shaft portion.
 2. A hockey stick as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft portion is comprised of a plurality of elongated wood members, said plurality of elongated wood members adapted to form said shaft portion, and said plurality of elongated members disposed between a plurality of said wood members.
 3. A hockey stick as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft portion is comprised of an outer rigid wall portion and a hollow inner portion, and said plurality of elongated members disposed within said outer wall portion and generally parallel to said outer rigid wall portion.
 4. A hockey stick as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft portion is comprised of an outer rigid wall portion and a hollow inner portion, said plurality of elongated members disposed within said outer wall portion and generally parallel to said outer rigid wall portion, each of said elongated members comprising a first end and a second end, said first end of each of said elongated members coupled to said hosel end of said blade portion, each of said second ends of said elongated members coupled to a second end of said shaft portion, and each of said elongated members adapted to maintain said blade portion in communication with said shaft portion.
 5. A hockey stick as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end of each of said elongated members coupled to said hosel end of said blade portion is removably coupled to a generally rigid shaft disposed within said blade portion of said hockey stick, and said generally rigid shaft disposed within and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tenon portion of said hosel end of said blade portion.
 6. A hockey stick as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end of said elongated members coupled to said hosel end of said blade portion is removably coupled to an externally threaded fastener, said externally threaded fastener is rotationally inserted into an internally threaded fastener disposed within said hosel end of said blade portion, said second end of said elongated members removably coupled to an externally threaded fastener, said externally threaded fastener removably coupled to said second end of said elongated members rotationally inserted into an internally threaded fastener disposed within the hockey stick plug.
 7. A hockey stick shaft portion comprising a plurality of generally rigid shafts disposed within an open end of said shaft portion opposite the blade end of said hockey stick shaft, said plurality of generally rigid shafts disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said hockey stick shaft, and each end of said plurality of generally rigid shafts inserted into a plurality of apertures disposed within said open end of said shaft portion opposite the blade end of said hockey stick shaft.
 8. A hockey stick blade adapted to mechanically couple a plurality of elongated members at a tenon portion of said hockey stick blade.
 9. A hockey stick blade as claimed in claim 8 wherein a plurality of internally threaded fasteners is disposed within said tenon portion of said hockey stick blade and said plurality of internally threaded fasteners is adapted to receive a plurality of externally threaded fasteners.
 10. A hockey stick blade as claimed in claim 8 wherein a plurality of generally rigid shafts is disposed within said tenon portion of said hockey stick blade, said plurality of generally rigid shafts is disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tenon portion, and each end of said plurality of generally rigid shafts inserted into a plurality of apertures disposed within said tenon portion of said hockey stick blade.
 11. A hockey stick plug adapted to mechanically couple a plurality of elongated members at a portion of said hockey stick plug disposed within a hockey stick shaft.
 12. A hockey stick plug as claimed in claim 11 wherein a plurality of internally threaded fasteners is disposed within said hockey stick plug and said plurality of internally threaded fasteners is adapted to receive a plurality of externally threaded fasteners.
 13. A hockey stick plug as claimed in claim 11 wherein a plurality of generally rigid shafts is disposed within said hockey stick plug, said plurality of generally rigid shafts disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said hockey stick plug, and each end of said plurality of generally rigid shafts inserted into a plurality of apertures disposed within said hockey stick plug. 